Shell QGC venture has announced that it will be expanding its existing natural gas operations across Queensland. Project Goog-a-binge is expected to generate up to 350 jobs in the Western Downs region, together with contracts for local suppliers, over the next two years.

This project will see approximately 250 new wells across existing operations located near Wandoan, Miles, Chinchilla and Tara. The new wells will enable the project to produce up to 930 petajoules of gas over the next three decades to be consumed by domestic and export customers.

“This latest expansion plan will help ensure sustained gas supply to domestic customers as well as royalties to fund frontline services across the State.

“Most importantly, it will pump millions of dollars into local household budgets, local stores and local businesses for the next 30 years,” Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said.

Project Goog-a-binge was named after the Iman name for a scrub turkey and it was chosen by the local Iman traditional owners.

Currently, the Shell QGC venture employs about 1,000 people in Queensland as well as spent approximately $140 million towards goods and services from Toowoomba and Surat Basin communities during the first half of 2018.

Local businesses are encouraged to register their interest with EconomX, which is where the project and its contractors will be seeking for expressions of interest for work packages.

“I understand QGC has already engaged three Chinchilla-based fabrication contractors for the project and just a couple of weeks ago I was in Toowoomba announcing that Easternwell had won a multi-million dollar, five-year contract with QGC.

“We expect the gas industry to continue to deliver for the south-west, and the Palaszczuk Government will continue to drive increased gas supply with innovative policy, to meet the needs of households and Australian manufacturers,” Dr Lynham said.

Pre-construction works as well as site preparation will get underway at some sites next month. Drilling of the wells are anticipated to begin in January up to December 2019, subject to government approvals.

Subscribe to the PlantMiner blog today to stay up to date with the latest industry news and project updates.